" No mum! I…I don't think I can," Rissa said crossing her hand over her chest." And why is that?" Stella asked raising her chin challengingly Rissa threw her a disbelieving look "Mum! You....know ....why," she stuttered." And so?" Stella responded defiantly "Look around you young lady, you and Liam is a stale news now, people have moved past it except you" " I know but....." Rissa started " But what! Rissa, you are a vibrant thirty-year-old woman with a good degree and qualifications; I can't let you rot in this countryside; you deserve better, and he deserves better, too," she said, arching her head towards Caleb, who had dozed off already." Mum, I have nowhere to return to," Rissa said, painstaken as the thought of facing Liam surfaced in her mind.The disdainful look he threw her the last time they saw each other which was the day he divorced her." You can always start over," Stella snapped back hastily "You need to meet another man of your standard and get married""Again!!
Caleb waved endlessly after disentangling himself from his teary-eyed grandmother. " Don't worry, my sweetest, I will come visiting every time," Stella shouted after them; she busted into uncontrollable tears while leaning towards Abraham, who seemed to be in a similar sad state as she was. " Mum, we will miss the train at this rate”, Rissa said playfully, her heart heavy with affection. She held Caleb tightly and also their luggage. Finally giving in to Stella's persuasion, she decided to take the opportunity the previous Asian supervisor presented to her on a platter of gold. A chance to work her transfer to Perchy Peach headquarters in Los Angeles. Fortunately, he offered to rent out an apartment in the city to her which was his sole property all his working years. They boarded the train, found a good seat close to the left window, and settled in. Caleb's enthusiasm for travelling for the first time made it less easy on her. " Mum, can't granny travel with us?" he asked te
" Miss Stonebridge?" the stout man asked raising a questioning brow " Yes, I am”, Rissa responded instantly, plastering a pleasant smile on her tense face. " This way, please," he led her to a spacious office and requested she sit opposite him. Rissa breathed in and out, gathering her courage; her mind drifted to Caleb, whom Mandy had promised to keep busy till she returned. " In order not to waste both of our precious moments, Mr Kim had sent us a recommendation letter on the merit of working in our branch factory for six years. Am I mistaken?" he asked, raising a brow at her. " No, very accurate," Rissa responded confidently "Noted, despite that, I need to have a short interview to determine if there is accuracy in his review" Rissa nodded in understanding and braced herself for likely questions she had earlier prepared to be asked. " Your resume states that you worked at Golden Fingers at a point as a marketing manager before you joined Perchy Peach as a countryside contrac
" Aren't you supposed to stop me from playing video games for hours? Isn't that what babysitting is about?" Caleb asked Mandy yawning lazily." Boy! I agreed to babysit you my way, not your mum's," Mandy said, shrugging her shoulder with her focus on the cortex she was applying on her legs." I think I like your own way,” Caleb said enthusiastically, picking up candy from a pile he had already munched on." Well, I guess I will make a terrible mother after all”, Mandy responded nonchalantly.“Of course, you will make a terrible mum”, Caleb responded, showing off his missing tooth.Mandy laughed hysterically, scaring Caleb, but she threw him a reassuring smile."Your accent is funnier than your blunt remarks Caleb," she said, pinching his chubby cheeks.Caleb's eyes were focused on the video game for much longer till a knock at the door distracted him." That must be mum," he said excitedly and rushed to the door.He felt a pang of disappointment when the door swung open, and a tall, f
Rissa picked up a bunch of flowers and wiped it over Diane's shocked pale face." How dare you!" She screamed out her lungs staring intently into her face." I am sorry, Rissa, it just happened”, Diane shouted back and busted into uncontrollable tears.Liam stood in the distance, watching their brawl with less interest, and crossed his arm over his broad chest." I trusted you; how could you marry my lover?" Rissa shot back." You betrayed him first, remember? Now he belongs to me”, Diane responded swiftly, wiping off her tears and walking into Liam's outstretched hand.She kissed him on the lips, and Rissa rushed over to attack her when she felt shaken, and Caleb's voice rang in her ear." Mum! Mum! Mum!" Caleb called out rubbing his sleepy eyes.Rissa jolted up from her dream, her conscious mind felt bad for her silly dream." What was revenge going to serve me," she muttered to herself." Mum, I want to use the restroom," Caleb cried out sleepily. Rissa picked him up and ushered hi
Diane placed a small book on her lap and scribed some words on it.She smiled satisfactorily as everything seemed to pleasure her. Her mouth twitched slightly as she thought of what else to pen down, but nothing else came to her mind.She opened her minute safe, put the small book into it, and locked it up instantly. A knock on the door jolted her out of her trance.She quickly rushed to the door and turned the knob, to her dismay, Rowen stared intently at her disdainfully." It took you long enough," he said with a hint of anger in his tone." Father, I didn't know you were back,” she said, smiling pleasantly although she felt the opposite." Were you hoping I don't return?" Rowen responded hastily getting bored of their conversations." Of course not; I am pleased to see you back, Hale and hearty.Rowen scoffed loudly, turning his back on her "I didn't come for a chitty chat; I was told you took some days off at work; are you pregnant?" he questioned bluntly." Unm... father..no,
Adrian paced endlessly as the child was wheeled into the emergency unit." Mr Grey, we found his mother, she had been contacted," Doctor Snow said reassuringly and walked out of the waiting room swiftly.Adrian's heart thumped loudly, and he ruffled his lustrous hair, desperately hoping the media hadn't got wind of the unfortunate situation.His driver and butler also stood by his side, quavering guiltily; he didn't bother to spare them a glance as his mind kept praying desperately for the child to survive.Doctor Snow rushed out of the emergency unit "Mr Grey, we need an urgent blood donation for the child, he has lost too much blood and his type isn't in our blood bank at the moment" Adrian didn't think twice before responding immediately, "Test us if you can find his match". His hasty decisions surprised Doctor Snow, who, without delay, sent their blood samples to the laboratory for testing.Mr Black, the butler, was hesitant but concurred eventually with a sharp threat from Adria
"So it was you?" Rissa questioned glaring at Adrian while pacing endlessly in Doctor Snow's office.Adrian was agape as he kept staring blankly at the paper he was holding."Is...is there a possibility of the result being wrong?" he asked, facing Doctor Snow, whose countenance remains unshaken."Mr Grey, I can assure you it was accurately done," Doctor Snow responded firmly.Adrian sat back on the chair, dejected; how was this any way possible? Fathering a child he does not know of.Before he could gather his thoughts, Rissa faced him angrily “You ruined my life and marriage!" She said it with so much hate and spite.Her words juggled Adrian's dwindled memory, he had dreamt of a woman telling him the same thing."It was you! Room 302 Charleston Hotel, November 3rd, seven years ago," Adrian rambled on wide-eyed.Before he could complete his words, Rissa smacked him across the face and walked out angrily.Doctor Snow was perplexed witnessing the awkward situation, especially for a man l
Adrian's eyes widened in amazement, he had actually wished he could call on a fairy godmother as he usually imagined as a child. He was an adult now, such delusion could never solve his problems.But Alas! One has shown up all dressed stunningly turning all heads. He was tempted to rush out of his office as he stared intently at the CCTV footage where Rissa was surrounded by multiple paparazzi.She looked too confident to be calling whatever she was saying a bluff. Was her unexpected presence a solution or going to escalate the problems further?Whatever she was trying to do, he wasn't sure it would be effective except for her stunning look, which obviously had the best effect already.“Mr Grey, Miss Stonebridge has found us a solution”His secretary's words jolted him out of his depressed state. He didn't care about being classy and rushed down the stairs to the front door of Perchy Peach where Rissa was being interviewed.“As I had said earlier, those are the differences, check it o
“What do I want? So annoying when you ask in that manner” “What do you want Mr George?” Adrian questioned again; this time, his voice was firmer and dangerous. “Wow! So scary, well if you must know the only desire I have is to watch your company crumble”, Mr George said laughing awkwardly. Adrian resisted the urge to punch him in the face. This definitely was a bigger conspiracy, obviously; Mr George wasn't capable of orchestrating such alone. “Tell your sponsor that you make a great puppet, smart move on his part, someone would have to take the fall eventually…. someone easily dis..pen..sable”, Adrian said, smiling wickedly and taunting him. One of the few tricks he had picked up in his years as an actor. He stared intently into George’s eyes, his furrowed brow satisfied Adrian. Obviously, his trick had hit a nerve. “I am nobody's puppet! We are into a respectable partnership agreement, and we both have equal rights”, he responded defensively, crossing his arm over his chest.
Adrian locked hands with Rissa who put her ear gently on his broad chest. It feels like home, very homely, but it was too good to last a century.Adrian stared blankly at her, hoping desperately the world could be in favour of all their wishes. Everything was going on fine, so smoothly that he was feeling quite uneasy about it all.Tracy had committed suicide in prison after leaving a note stating she had gaslighted Bianca Grey and Diane Donaldson to do her bidding.They both got out unscratched after paying a meagre fine. Bianca left Los Angeles willingly after apologizing to those she had hurt, and Diane disappeared into thin air.Adrian couldn't be sure of how Liam Hickson handled the evidence he gave him secretly. But Golden Fingers seems to be back in all its glory, fiercely competing with Perchy Peach in the market.The only thing that reminds me of the scar of the battle is that Adrian insisted Rissa stay in his apartment, and this time around, she didn't refuse.The happiness
Adrian stretched out his hand and threw the flash into the air, three eyes followed its movement till it landed on the intruder's palm. Liam’s eyes widened at Adrian's foolishness.“Shedding blood wasn't necessary in the first place so I won't if you both stay put till I leave”.He shot the air to show them he was capable of destruction if they did not comply. Rissa and Amber heard the sound and fear gripped them. They hastily hid behind Adrian’s car while the intruder successfully ran off excitedly.There was no way they could be sure of who was behind the mask; too many people were after that evidence.“We will all get killed at this rate!” Liam said angrily.“Should I have allowed him to kill them?” Adrian shot back, returning his exact energy.They both stared intently into each other's furrowed brows and, at the same time, ran forward to check up on their women. Rissa and Amber were literally shaking from fear.Diane brought out a telescope, and her focal point was on Rissa and A
Liam carried the white porcelain close to his chest and moved slowly in a staggering motion.Amber stood by his side while other people kept making speculative guesses about their current relationship, but she couldn't care less; Liam needed her now, and she was there for him.The long siren kept the street bubbling as more people kept showing interest in Rowen's death. The families of the victims of the faulty construction gathered to protest in front of Golden Fingers.Tracy had made it her plan B by reaching out to them all from the onset and using their pent-up resentment for her own bidding. They kept demanding the truth from the grieving Liam Hickson.Despite the security personnel stationed around, they kept coming up with provocative billboards and ensured they posted the videos on social media to amass public sympathy.Liam disappointed them by reacting calmly against their expectation. Bianca’s reaction was the worst; she had actually surrendered to the police for a malicio
“My girlfriend is losing consciousness”, Adrian shouted distressed.The policemen stationed outside the mansion exchanged confused looks. One of them called the emergency service. Adrian, sensing impending defeat, hastily immersed in his acting skill.“I need to get her an inhaler before it is too late. Are you going to take responsibility for that? I have one in there”, he said, pointing towards his apartment.The hesitance of the police made him glare more at them, they finally agreed that he could go in there but must only return with an inhaler.Adrian smiled inwardly at successfully fooling them; he carefully laid Rissa on the relaxation chair and rushed in; one of the policemen stood beside her, watching her gasping for air.He rushed straight to his study and picked up the box. He unboxed it and brought out a small flash, he knew shredding the papers would leave some evidence behind. He tore them into pieces and flushed them down the toilet. He was about to rush out when he rem
Amber hastily picked up her bag and rushed out of the office. Her secretary, a lanky tall man, requested he follow her, but she outrightly rejected the offer.Rissa's call had destabilized her emotions, and the only thing that mattered was finding Liam, the grieving Liam.She knew better than to be at ease knowing fully well the emotional disturbances that he had gone through the past few months. She kept calling his number repeatedly before she left her office but he wasn't picking up.Amber got into her car and zoomed off thinking of where he could be.“Liam! Liam! Where could you be?” She kept humming while driving at high speed.The memory of their childhood resurfaced in her mind, the days Rowen scolded him badly; Liam had always hidden himself in his late mother's room or swam endlessly in the pool till he was almost out of breath.Where would the adult Liam want to be, she wondered?The car came to an abrupt stop in front of the Hickson's mansion and she alighted hastily. She a
*Bang* A cold chill swept over Adrian as two bodies dropped unconsciously on the floor. He hastily rushed over to Rowen Hickson who was already coughing blood. “Call an ambulance!” He screamed in agony. One of the bodyguards rushed over to Tracy whom his fired bullet had grazed her arm. She wriggled around in pain. No one had seen it coming; she wasn't expected to shoot Rowen Hickson on the spot. The angry blaring of the ambulance siren made them all alert; Bianca just stood at a spot, horrified, not daring to move or speak. A million self-blame ran through her head. Why had she given in to Tracy's trickery from the start? She had assumed using Rowen Hickson's enemy to punish him would relieve her resentment towards him for orchestrating her brother's death and denying their child. In the end, it all turns out to be false, and Rowen is dying as a result of her foolishness. Rowen and Tracy were ushered into the ambulance van. The police also arrived at the scene immediately; Tra
“I was,” Rowen Hickson said with confidence. Being baffled was an understatement as Adrian exchanged gazes with the security personnel.Bianca said she had suspected someone from the CCTV footage showing up every night for three consecutive nights and always staring at Adrian's apartment. So they decided to set a trap for him that night.“What sly bastard did our trap…..”Bianca was saying as she walked into the living room. The word got stuck on her tongue when he saw who the intruder turned out to be.Shocked, she backed away from the room to catch her breath. What was Rowen Hickson doing there? Wasn't he bedridden?Rowen just looked over at her and looked away instantly, not caring about the emotion that was evident on her pale face.“Why are you here Mr Hickson?”“You know why I am here Adrian”.“You have all the resources to hire someone to do it, why are you here by yourself?” Adrian questioned suspiciously.“Could I trust anyone with it? Of course not”“Excuse us”, Adrian said